Title: Whig Rose
Artist(s): Unknown
Material(s): Cotton
Technique(s): Hand pieced, hand appliquéd and hand quilted
Dimensions: 106" x 104"
Date made: ca. 1850
Place Created: Flushing, Genesee County, Michigan
Collection: Great Lakes Quilt Center/Michigan State University Museum
Photo Credit: Mark Eifert

Interpretative Commentary:

"Whig Rose" is a common appliqué pattern. The Whigs, an American political party formed in 1834, is believed to be the source of the name of this very common appliqué pattern. Although by 1856 the party had been succeeded by the Republican Party, the "Whig Rose" pattern remained popular throughout the second half of the nineteenth century. Mary Schafer had a strong interest in American history and the political implications of the pattern's name surely appealed to her; her collection contains three examples.
Mary had a strong interest in pursuing the history of each quilt she collected. When she purchased a quilt from an antique dealer, she inquired about provenance and often researched any tips she was given about the piece. Mary's notes on this indicated that it was made in Greenfield, Massachusetts and that a bride then took it to the Philippine Islands. -- Mary Worrall

Additional Commentary:

The quilt was included in the exhibit American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum, which toured in Japan from January-December 2003 and is illustrated on pg. 108 in the exhibit’s catalogue, American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum. -– Beth Donaldson